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Brexit options debated by MPs

MPs have failed to back any alternative arrangements to the Prime Minister's Brexit deal, after fighting to take control of the process for Britain to leave the EU.

It comes as the Prime Minister pledged she would resign if MPs backed her withdrawal agreement with the EU.

MPs debated eight alternative options on how to proceed following the UK's vote to leave the European Union in June 2016.

Prime Minister Theresa May
Prime Minister Theresa May

Yet they were unable to support any of the options, which included Labour's plan, a People's Vote or a permanent customs union.

It comes amid growing evidence MPs are preparing to back Theresa May's proposal.

Gillingham MP Rehman Chishti says he now will back the PM if the Prime Minister presents a third meaningful vote, known as MV.03, to Parliament.

Dover MP Charlie Elphicke says he will wait to hear what the PM has to say to the 1922 committee later this evening.

These switches reflect the growing concern that some Brexiteer MPs have said “remainers” could derail the whole thing.

For all the latest goings on in parliament this evening, follow our live blog. Remember to refresh the page for updates:

10.16

Here's a summary of tonight's events.

10.00

North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale delivers his assessment of the result.

9.46

The results of the indicative votes in the Commons have just been announced, with no support for any of the Brexit options.

The results are:

Option B: Leave the EU without a deal on April 12 - REJECTED

Ayes 160 Noes 400

Option D: Norway + model (remain in single market, customs arrangement, European Free Trade Agreement) REJECTED

Ayes 188 Noes 283

Option H: Norway model, without a customs union (European Economic Area and European Free Trade Agreement). REJECTED

Ayes: 65 Noes: 377

Option J: Leave the EU with a UK-wide customs union. REJECTED

Ayes: 264 Noes: 272

Option K: Permanent customs union, including alignment with single market on future EU rights and regulations. REJECTED

Ayes: 237 Noes: 307

Option L: Revoke Article 50 if no-deal Brexit is not explicitly approved by MPs a day before we are due to leave. REJECTED

Ayes: 184 Noes: 293

Option M: Any withdrawal agreement must be put to the public in a "confirmatory" second referendum. REJECTED

Ayes: 268 Noes: 295

Option O: If no withdrawal agreement agreed, seek "standstill" agreement with the EU while negotiating trade deal. REJECTED

Ayes: 139 Noes: 422

9.19 MPs agree to move the exit day to May 22 if deal approved or April 12 if it is not

9.06 Quick reminder: These are the options MPs have voted on this evening

Option B: Leave the EU without a deal on 12th April

Option D: Norway + model (remain in single market, customs arrangement, EFTA)

Option H: Norway model, without a customs union (EEA + EFTA).

Option J: Leave the EU with a UK-wide customs union.

Option K: Permanent customs union, including alignment with single market on future EU rights and regulations

Option L: Revoke Article 50 if no-deal Brexit is not explicitly approved by MPs a day before we are due to leave

Option M: Any withdrawal agreement must be put to the public in a ‘confirmatory’ second referendum

Option O: If no withdrawal agreement agreed, seek “standstill” agreement with the EU while negotiating trade deal

8.57 The DUP will not support the withdrawal agreement while it "poses a threat to the integrity of the UK", according to leader Arlene Foster.

8.25 North Thanet MP has tweeted his position

8.13 Kelly Tolhurst explains what is going on tonight and why she is backing a no deal. She explains here

7.48 MPs have cast their votes on the eight options and counting is currently under way.

7.07 Boris Johnson is reported to have switched sides and agreed to back the deal.

6.59 Analysis from our political editor Paul Francis

"The Prime Minister has belatedly acknowledged that she may be responsible for the difficulties the party has had over her Brexit deal.

Her announcement tonight that she is to step down as party leader once the deal is ‘over the line’ answers the question that some of her critics were asking.

Sacrificing the top job in politics can't have been easy but she will be relieved that an end to the relentless criticism that she faced and humiliation in key votes is ending.

The question now is whether she has the numbers to get her deal signed off by MPs.

Her resignation plan may well have done enough to swing round some of those who have been implacably opposed to the deal. Already, the Dover MP Charlie Elphicke has indicated that he is now backing the deal, as is Gillingham MP Rehman Chishti.

But there is potentially one fly in the ointment: the speaker John Bercow has made it clear that he will not allow the Prime Minister to present the deal to Parliament for ratification if it has not met his test of change."

That could lead to a political stalemate of an altogether different type.

6.40 Charlie Elphicke has decided he will support the deal to make sure we leave the EU

6.27 Old friend and colleague Damian Green has called the PM 'dignified' as she announces she will step down

6.24 Bookmakers have installed Michael Gove as the favourite to succeed Theresa May when she stands down.

Boris Johnson is second favourite at 6/1 while former Brexit secretary state Dominic Raab is 12/1 to land the top job and Jeremy Hunt, Foreign Secretary, is at 11 to 1.

Meanwhile the prospect of a Kent MP to take the keys to Downing Street slightly or slightly longer with Tonbridge and Malling MP Tom Tugendhat priced at between 33/1 and 25/1.

Tom Tugendhat, the future PM?
Tom Tugendhat, the future PM?

6.11 "I am prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended in order to do what is right for our country and our party. I ask everyone in this room to back the deal so we can complete our historic duty – to deliver on the decision of the British people and leave the European Union with a smooth and orderly exit," is what Mrs May said to the 1922 committee. To read her full statement click here.

5.29 Theresa May has told MPs she will stand down after she delivers Brexit. Whenever that may be.

4.36 The Speaker has warned against putting forward Theresa May's Brexit deal after MPs rejected it twice before.

She is expected to try and get the withdrawal agreement through on Friday.

Prime Minister Theresa May
Prime Minister Theresa May

4.16 Ahead of tonight's vote, EU chief Donald Tusk said if the UK can't agree on the type of Brexit we want, Theresa May should be open to a longer extension.

3.35 The South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay is making it pretty clear what he thinks of today's debate:

3.45 It may not tilt the balance in Theresa May’s favour but Gillingham MP Rehman Chishti says he now will back the PM when - if - she presents MV.03 to Parliament. Worth reminding that he actually resigned as a party vice-chairman to oppose deal.

3.47 The normal voting procedure when MPs troop into the lobbies won’t be used for the indicative votes - instead, there will be pens and paper. And it will be green paper not pink...read into that what you will

3.51 Here's the list of the eight options the Speaker has said will be debated:

3.55pm There are a couple of Kent MPs who haven't declared their hand yet but could be persuaded to back the PM: Gareth Johnson, Dartford MP agonised over whether to resign as a whip in order to oppose the deal and did so at the eleventh hour and the Sevenoaks MP Sir Michael Fallon, who has criticised the deal but is traditionally a party loyalist.

4.02 The uncertainty over the Brexit timetable means that the council elections may be overshadowed by the debate on the UK's terms of departure from the EU. Quite how this will impact on the parties is anyone's guess but the parties may be a little worried that voters might use the poll as a default second referendum.

4.50pm Two important developments from the debate going on:

Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay says the House will sit on Friday, which could mean the government wants another go at a meaningful vote - while the Speaker has underlined that if the government does come back with its deal he expects it to meet the test of change he outlined a week or so ago.

He warned that if it had not significantly changed, the government "should not seek to circumvent my ruling" by introducing procedures that could reverse his judgement.

So there could be an interesting stand-off...

5.05: The Prime Minister is supposed to be meeting backbenchers shortly. Could be a critical meeting - can she sell her deal to sceptics and will she give a steer when she intends to step down?

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